Abstract:
Disposal of leather waste from urban tanneries. is a major challenge. Sustainable and environmentally friendly methods are required in urban settings. This paper therefore, deals with the identification and quantification of all types of tanned solid wastes generated by 6 pre-selected urban tanneries in Kenya vis a vis correspon_ding quantity of hides and skins processed. Questionnaire survey and key informant interviews were conducted. The data collected in this study was analysed using descriptive statistics, and the analysis showed that 1,443,000kg of chromium contaminated leather waste was generated by the 6 pre-selected tanneries in the °:1onth of study. The generated wastes constituted chrome shavings (32. l%), chrome spins and tnrnnungs (36.2 Yo), vegetable shavings (9.1 %). vegetable splits and trimmings {14.9%), crust trimmings (3.5%), buffing dust (2.4%) and finished trimmings (1.8%), all ofwhich amounted to 2. l 12,560kg for one month in the 6 pre-selected tanneries that were investigated. The current modes_ of disposal of the waste include landfilling, dumping in open grounds, and or incenaration. Out of the total amount of hides processed in the 6 pre-selected tannenes dunng the month of srudy (6.642,525kg). 31.8% of this amount (i.e. 2,l 12.560kg) was actually converted into leather solid wastes. The proportion of leather solid wastes generated vis a vis the corresponding amount of hides processed was found to match closely with what is reported in literature (standard practice). It was also established 111 this srudy _that chrorniurn-conrainina leather waste formed the highest percentage (68.3%) of the vanous types of leather solidwastes generated in the 6 tanneries that were investigated.
